Machine eos



I. H. CONNDR.

MACHINE FOR FORIVIING THE TOES OF `IHE VAMPS'OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.26. 1912.

Patented Aug. 29, lf.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

VL-Wl @..PunmumawAsmncron. n c,

I. H. CONNOR. MACHINE FOR FORMING THE TOES 0F THE VAMPS 0F BOOTS AND SHOES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26| I9I2.

1,195,968. PatentedAug. 29,1916.

TS-S

3 SHEE HEET 2.

I. H. CONNOR.

MACHINE FOR FORMING THE TOES 0F THE VAMPS 0F BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED ITC-I'. 26, 1912.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I/l//T/VESSEY.

ED sTaTEs PATENT FFICE JOI-IN I-I. CONNOR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, NEXV JERSEY.

0F E'ATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F MACHINE FOR FORMING THE TOES 0F THE VAMPS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Application :filed October 26, 1912.

To all whom t may concern Be it knoivn that l, JOHN H. CONNOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of liassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Forming the Toes of the Vamps of Boots and Shoes, of ivhich the following description, in connection ivith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating` like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for shaping the toes of vamps of boots and shoes and more particularly to that class of machines Which are designed to form the toe. roughly, or approximately, prior to the lasting operation.

lt has been found desirable to stretch and to form the toe portion ofv the vamp prior to the lasting operation in order that during lasting it may be fitted to the last more easily and more snugly than heretofore. This procedure has the advantage that in performing this preparatory operation of toe forming the vamp can be Worked upon with greater facility and both the stretching and the permanent shaping of the stock can be performed more eectively than is practical in the lasting operation. For example, the stretching can be effected against less friction al resistance than is presented by the shoe last under working conditions and therefore the vamp can be extended farther so that less stock is necessary for a specified size of shoe. Furthermore, and this I regard as a highly important feature of this invention, the molding dies in place of a last can be and preferably is carried Well beyond the normal shape which it is desired that the toe shall have in the finished shoe. In other Words the vamp, in this operation preparatory to lasting, is overmolded to an extent which. will compensate for the reaction which takes place ivhen the vamp is removed from the shaping means, or it may be ivill do more than compensate and actually will leave the toe slightly smaller than the toe of the last on Which it is to be assembled. This preliminary shaping of the toe of thevamp greatly facilitates the lasting by reducing to a minimum the labor of forming the vamp to the last and renders the temporary fastening easier, and further- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented A110'. 29, 1916.

serial No. 727,909.

more it produces a shoe the shape of Which does not change or become modified after the last is Withdrawn. In forming a vamp blank into a toe upon a shoe last the maximum change in shape which it is possible to produce is limited to the actual shape and size of the last and there can be no allowance for reaction so that the toe of a completed shoe varies from the contour of its last more or less according to the extent of the reaction of the materials after the last is Withdrawn. It is therefore customary to extend the shoe making operations through a considerable period of time, amounting to three to six days for most Welt shoes, for the purpose of allowing the upper to set and dry on the last and thereby minimize the reaction Which causes the finished shoe to lose the shape of the last. By this present invention the reaction of the toe of the vamp is discounted before the vamp goes on the last and it is unnecessary to continue the shoe on the last for a longer period than the requirements of the other shoemaking operations demand. This invention may, therefore, be expected to economizeJ time as Well as to improve the shoes and to effect a saving in shoe vamp leather.

lVhile the invention is of especial importance in making shoes having high toes, z'. e. prominent toes, and those having toes with a curvature of comparatively small radius there are advantages, both as to the operation and the product, obtained from the general use of this invention in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In a machine for forming the toes of the vamps of boots and shoes there is provided, in accordance with a feature of this invention, the combination with an inside forming die, of means which are adapted to grip and hold the vamp, but which are also adapted to give up the material under stress. This means is arranged to hold the margin of the vamp until the unconfined portion is stretched to a prede` termined tension and then to give up slowly only the amount which, under like tension, is required by the die to form the toe as said die is forced upon the unconfined middle portion of the vamp. Advantageously a Work support is employed Which has an aperture of the shape and size of the toe that is to be formed, and a toe former is arranged to press the interior portion of the vamp into the aperture while the margin is clamped on the work support. It is found that when a vamp is spread approximately flat over a work support having an aperture of the proper size the margin of the vamp extending outwardly over the work support is much wider than the sole attaching flange that it is desirable that the molded vamp shall have. Also, if the toe former is forced down into the vamp far enough to shape the toe satisfactorily there is danger of overstretching and damaging the vamp. It has been proposed to meet this condition by humping up the middle portion of the vamp, as by spreading it over a toe former which projects part way through the work support, and thereby positioning the margin of the vamp with relation to the edge of the aperture so that the desired width of flange will be clamped on the work support and therefore the line of bend between the flange and body of the vamp will come at the edge of the aperture. Ink accordance with one part of this inyention such preliminary positioning of the upper and the former is rendered unnecessary and an improved stretching and shaping of the vamp is produced. These results are secured by constructing and arranging the apparatus to clamp the vamp around the sides and end of the aperture at a distance from the edge of the vamp greater than the width of the sole attaching flange which the vamp is to have and to hold the margin flat while moving the toe former to bend the interior portion of the vamp into the aperture in the work support and to pull the flatly clamped margin inwardly through the clamping means. By this action that portion of the margin that is to form the flange is shifted into the desired relation to the line of bend while being held fiat so that no wrinkles can form in it. Also the portion which is moved down into the aperture and therefore is drawn across the edge of the work support is smoothly stretched and kept free from wrinkles and the resulting molded toe can be subsequently lasted vwith a minimum of labor.

Another feature of the invention consists in the combination with a forming die of a work support having a clamping face, and a clamping member having an opposed clamping face, in which one of said clamping faces comprises compressible frictional material backed by a rigid body portion. As shown, a metallic clamping device is provided with a leather facing which enables it better to hold the margin of the vamp and give up stock without damaging the clamped portion of the stock whenever the strain becomes excessive at any point. Vith the said inside of forming die is preferably, although not necessarily, employed a compression die of corresponding shape between which and the inside die the vamp stock, while held in its stretched condition, is subjected to pressure which will set it in the new shape.

ln the construction about to be described as an embodiment of the invention the holding means comprises a work support having an aperture to receive the forming die and a clamping device to clamp the margin of the vamp upon the work support and hold it in position across the aperture. As the forming die advances on to the vamp and past the normal position of the material, the latter bulges through the aperture in the work support and is conformed by the die to the shape of the toe desired, the construction being such that as the forming die advances the material, before it would tear, slips between the work support and the clamping device but is still held so strongly that it is stretched about and pulled close to the forming die. In order that the vamp may slip first at the point or points where the tension is greatest and it would tear first, while continuing to hold at other points until a like or desired tension is produced, a convenient clamping device comprises a series of feet each of which is pressed toward clamping position independently and preferably by separately adjustable springs. This allows the clamping pressure to be variously adjusted so that, if desired, the forming die may take more material from one portion of the vamp than from another. The construetion may or may not be such that the clamping device as a whole is moved toward and from clamping position as the forming die moves toward and from the vamp, and by means of a connect-ion from the forming die to its actuating means.

The novel features of the invention, including certain combinations of parts and more important details of construction, will be more fully understood from the following description of the embodiment thereof shown in the drawings and will then be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a vertical section through the middle of the turret and table and having in side elevation one toe forming apparatus closed upon a vamp and another one open for the reception of a vamp; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one half of the machine; Fig. 3 shows one toe forming apparatus in front elevation; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing particularly the construction of the y'amp margin clamping device; Fig. 5 shows a modification in which the forming die and the vamp clamping device are actuated by one lever.

The frame of the machine supports a rotatable vertical shaft 2 upon which are rigidly fastened a table 4 and a turret The turret has six arms in which six toe forming dies G are mounted and there are a corresponding number of cooperating work supports 8 mounted in the table in alinement with said dies whereby the vamps et three pairs of shoes may be in the machine at the same time, each of which vamps shall stand under pressure while live others are being stretched and formed.

The forming dies G are preferably made somewhat narrower and with curvatures of somewhat smaller radius than the toes ot the lasts upon which the vainps are to be assembled. Each forming die 6 is shown as having an undercut groove in its top face by which it can slide on and oit a correspondingly shaped rib l on a foot plate that is attached by its collar l2 to a plunger 15 and the forming die is fastened in place by a bolt and nut 14. The plunger extends upwardly through a turret arm being guided therein by a vertically sliding sleeve 1G and a vertically adjustable threaded nut 1S between which a. stiff spring 2G is held under adjustable compression. Pairs of toggle links 21, 22 are connected respectively to the sleeve 16 and to the collar l2, one pair of the links being bent and extended to Jform the hand lever 25 by which the toggle can be straightened to depress the forming die G, the sprin' 2O rendering the movement of the die yielding. rlhe toggle is arranged, Fig. l, to be stopped slightly beyond dead center and the links have shoulders to hold it there. A spring QG is arranged to raise the die clear ot' the work support 8 lwhen the toggle is flexed outward as in Fig. l.

The work support 8 is preferably7 although not necessarily, a mold the inner walls of which correspond in shape to the contour oit the forming die 6 and between which and the die the stretched toe of the vamp is subjected to compression to set the toe in the shape which has been given to it by the die. Either the die or the mold or both may be heated. For the style o't tees illustrated the front end wall of the die, and also that side wall which corresponds to the inner side o't the toot, may be made vertically straight whereby to effect a drawing-mit et the vamp stock between those walls and the Corresponding walls ot the mold as the walls slide relatively while the die is entering the mold. rhis not only prevents the formation ci wrinkles in those portions of the toe where Wrinkles most tend to form but stretches or extends the stock to cover these relatively high portions of the die.

A clamping device shaped as shown in Fig. 2 to extend around the forming die G and clamp the margin of the vamp upon the top face of the work support 8, is removably and adjustably secured by the undercut groove and rib connection, Fig. 4, and the nut to the lower end of a. guide rod 34 which extends upwardly through a. bearing in the turret arm, and has a stud extending laterally through a vertical slot in the bearing and engaged by a cam slot in a lever 35. The lever is 1fulcrumed on the bearing and lifts the clamping device against the resistance oit a spring 3G which is located in the bearing between a nut which is adjustable in the upper end et the bearing and a collar that is fast on the rod; and which assists in depressing said device. The cam slot in the lever is formed7 Fig. l, to lock the clamping device down upon the vamp. The vamp engaging iace of the clamping device preferably has a friction covering oi' leather as at 38, Fig. 4, and around its inner edge are formed ribs projecting downwardly as in Fig. 4 to hold the friction covering from displacement inwardly as the vamp margin is drawn inwardly by the forming die.

Instead of a single clamping plate it is preferred that the clamping device should comprise a number of sections. there being shown, Fig. 4, a` toe end section 40. inner and outel corner sections 41 and 42 and inner and outer side sections 43, Each section is carried on a slide rod 45 that can move in the roet 30 in the general direction in which the forming die moves and is supported by a spring 4G adjusted by a threaded and wing nut.

Each n'xolding apparatus carried by the turret and table is alike except that alternate sets of molds, dies and clamps are shaped for right and leit toes.

ln the use of the invention the vamp to be operated upon is placed upon the work support with its toe portion in correct relationship to the aperture in the work support or the mold. The lever 35 is then depressed to force the clamping device into gripping engagement with the marginal portion of the vamp7 the tension of the springs 46 having been properly adjusted relatively to clamp the different portions et the tee margin with the relative forces to cause the desired drafting of the upper as the forming die operates. rihe toggle mechanism is then operated by the hand lever Q5 to depress the forming die which passes into the aperture in the mold and of necessity carries the uneontined portieri of the vamp before it. The uncontined portion ot the vamp will thus be stretched to the limit at which the tension of the springs 46 are set, which will be more or less below the rupturing tension of the vamp. 1When the tension on any part of the upper exceeds the 'torce with which its respective clampingfoot 40, 4l, 43 or 44 is holding it the vamp will begin to draw from under that foot and eventually, as the downward movement of the forming die progresses. nearlv, but not quite all ot the margin of the vamp will be dragged. from between the work suppcrt and all of the clamping feet. all portions so drawn out being thoroughly stretched in the direction ot the tension whereby the vamp is not only extended to cover the maximum size ot forming die which it is capable of being made to lit but also by this action the marginal portion ot the vamp nearly to its edge is contracted edgewise or reduced in its perip xeral length so that it lies sn'ioothly about the edge ot' the :Forming die and it presents a minimum of fullness to plait when the margin is lasted in over the innersole of a shoe. rllhis operation resembles the wire drawing"7 operation in which stock is extended in length while being reduced in circumference. The close lit between the nearly vertical, walls ot the die and mold on the end and inner side faces insures the smoothness oi'I these parts or" the vamp where wrinkles are most disposed to torni in a vamp toe shaping operation. The pressure to which the stretched and formed toe is subjected when the formi i nie is finally depresset sets the toe in its stretched and shaped condition. This is rendered more certain by causing each vamp to stand under pre re while tive others are being treated and, it may be it desired. by subjecting the 'amp to the action ot heat applied through either the die (3 or the mold 8 or both the die and the mold. rthe forming die is preferably made mirrower than the toe et the last i'or which the vamp is intended and also with sharper curves, and the mold is ot corresilionding shape`r so that the toe is overmolded to an extent equal to or greater than the small degree oit' reaction or spreading ot the toe which is inevitable when the toe is taken ol'll the forming die. Thereby the molded toe is made to lit the last snugly and labor of lasting the toe is thereby substantially reduced because little remains to be done besides overwiping and fastening the margin and even this is made easier because the margin is contracted lengthwise nearly to its edge as above pointed out, only enough stock at the edge being lett in the clamps to insure that the tension shall be maintained on the van-ip all around the toe until the die is Yfully sunk into the mold. lt is also possible by the use oit this invention so to stretch vamp toes that a smaller pattern than heretoi'ore will make a given size of shoe.

it desired the clamping device may be arranged to be operated by the same actuator as the forming die, as shown in Fig. 5, where the :toot 30 is litted to encircle the lower section (SO ot the plunger to which the die is secured. A still spring G2 encircles the stein and is held under tension between said toot and the end oit the larger section (Si ot the plunger. rllhe upper end of section 6l is connected to the turret arm by a toggle the upper member ot which is extended at G5 to 'form a hand lever.l ln

this figure is shown simpler toe shaping means in that the die resembles the shape of a toe only in a general way and the work support upon which the vamp is clamped is not provided in its aperture with a mold against which the die bottoms to subject the stretched toe to compression. lt is obvious however that the die and the mold of the main figures ma)7 be used with the operating mechanism of Fig. 5, as it is equally plain that this operating mechanism might be used with the stretching, shaping and pressing means of the main figures.

Having explained the nature ot this invention and described a mechanism embodying it in the best form now known to me, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:--

l. ln a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a work support having an aperture to be overlaid by the toe of the vamp, said aperture extending through the rear end of the work support opposite the end overlaid by the tip of the toe. a device to clamp the marginal portion oi' the vamp around the sides and tip end only of the toe upon the work support, means for operating the clamping device to hold the vamp at the end and sides of the toe, a toe former, and means to operate the toe 'former to bulge the unconlined portion of the vamp into the aperture in the work support for partially toi-ming the toe and then to draw out a portion ot the confined margin at the end and sides ot the toe from under the clamp and simultaneously stretch it for coinpleting the formation ont the toe.

2. ln a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes7 a work support having an aperture to be overlaid by the toe oi' the vamp, a device to clamp the marginal portion ot the vamp around the toe upon the work support7 means for operating the clamping device to hold the vamp 'frictionally, a toe forming die. a plunger on which the die is mounted, a bearing in which the plunger can slide, a sleeve on the plunger7 a sprino confined between the sleeve and the bearing, and a toggle the members ot' which are connected with the sleeve and with the plunger respectively and one member ot which is extended to form a hand lever by which the forming die can be yieldingly depressed to bulge the unconlined portion of the vamp into the aperture in the work support.

3. ln a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vainps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a work support having an aperture to be overlaid by the toe of the vamp; a clamp shaped to grip the margin of the toe upon the work support, a stem on which the clamp is removably attached, a bearing into which the stem eXtends, a collar on the stem, a stiff spring conned between the collar and the upper portion of the bearing, a

lever fulcrumed to the bearing and having a cam slot, and a stud projecting from the stem through a slot in the bearing and into the cam slot whereby the clamp is raised by the lever and is depressed by the lever and the spring; a toe forming die located Within the clamp and over the aperture in the Work support, and means to operate said die to bulge into said aperture the portion of the vamp that is unconfined by the clamp and then finally to draw from under the clamp a portion of the Vamp margin held by the clamp.

4. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe Vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a Work support having an aperture to be overlaid by the toe of the vamp; a clamping device shaped to grip the margin of the toe upon the Work support, a toe former, and means to actuate the former to bulge the unconined portion of the vamp into the aperture in the Work support to stretch and shape the Vamp and to draw out a portion of the margin from under the clamp; said clamping device comprising a plurality of sections and separately adjustable yielding mountings for said sections permitting the clamping pressure upon the various portions of the vamp margin to be relatively adjusted and allowing the toe former to take more stock from one portion of the margin than from another.

5. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe Vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a Work support having an aperture to be overlaid by the toe of the vamp; a clamping device shaped to grip the margin of the toe upon the Work support, a toe Jforming die, and means to actuate the forming die to bulge the unconfined portion of the vamp into the aperture in the Work support to stretch and shape the vamp and to draw out a portion of the margin from under the clamp, said clamping device comprising toe end, toe corner and toe side sections each of Which is provided with a separate and independently adjustable spring sustaining means by which the relative forces against which the end, corner and sides of the vamp margin are drawn out by the toe forming die can be regulated.

6. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe Vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a Work support having an aperture open at the rear end of the Work support and adapted to be overlaid by the toe of the vamp, a device coperating with the Work support to clamp the marginal portion of the vamp at the sides and the toe end of the aperture in the Work support and hold the vamp for the shaping operation, means for operating the clamping device to hold the vamp, a toe forming die, and means to actuate the die to bulge the unconfined portion of the vamp into the aperture in the Work support `for stretching and shaping the toe, the aperture in the Work support being shaped like the toe shaping` face of the die to constitute a mold to cooperate with the die for subjecting to compression the shaped and stretched toeotl the vamp for setting the vamp in its shaped and stretched condition.

7. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe Vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a Work support having an aperture open at the rear end of the Work support and adapted to be overlaid by the toe of the vamp, a device coperating with the Work support to clamp the marginal portion of the vamp at the sides and around the toe end of the aperture in the Work support and hold thel vamp for the shaping operation, means for operating the clamping device to hold the Vamp, a toe forming die, and means to actuate the die to bulge the unconined portion of the vamp into the aperture in the Work support for stretching and shaping the toe, the aperture in the Work support being shaped like the toe shaping face of the die to constitute a mold to coperate with the die, said mold and die having end and inner side faces near their upper edges which are substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the die and are arranged close together to prevent the formation of Wrinkles in the vamp, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe Vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a Work support having an aperture to be overlaid by the toe of the vamp, a toe forming die, means to operate the die, and a device to clamp the marginal portion of the vamp around the toe upon the Work support, said device comprising a carrier and a plurality of vamp engaging sections mounted on the carrier for relative yielding movement substantially perpendicular to the surface of the Work.

9. A machine of the character stated, comprising a fixed bed having a forming opening, a movable plunger having a margin conforming to the said opening and a forming face belovv its margin, means for forcing the plunger into the bed opening, and means for yieldingly clamping the margin of a blank outside the margin of the bed opening and holding the body of the blank yieldingly in the path of the plunger, said means including a clamping face of yielding frictional material backed by a rigid body portion.

10. A machine of the character stated, comprising a iiXed bed having an opening and a clamping face at the margin thereof, a clamping member having a corresponding opening and a clamping face opposed to the clamping face of the bed, said clamping faces being adapted to clamp the margin of a blank of sheet material interposed between them and hold the body portion of said blank over the bed, one of said faces being a layer of yielding frictional material backed by a rigid portion7 means for holding the clamping member yieldingly against the margin of said blank, a plunger formed to enter the bed opening, and means for forcing the plunger and the body portion of the blank into the bed opening, the yieldingly pressed clamping member permitting the clamped margin of the blank to slip between the said clamping faces.

11. A machine of the character stated, comprising a bed having an opening and a clamping face at the margin thereof, a clamping member having a corresponding opening and a clamping face opposed to the clamping face of the bed, one of said clamping faces being of compressible frictional material and backed by a rigid body portion, means for holding the clamping member yieldingly against the margin of a blank interposed between said faces, and a reciprocating plunger formed to enter the bed opening.

1-2. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a work support having an aperture to be overlaid by the forepart of the vamp, said aperture being open at its rear end, means cooperating with the work support to clamp the vamp around the sides and front end of the aperture at a distance from the edge of the vamp greater than the width of the sole attaching flange which the vamp is to have, a toe former substantially fitting the aperture, and operating means for clamping .the vamp margin flat and moving the former to bend the interior portion of the vamp into the aperture and to pull the flatly clamped margin of the vamp inwardly Ytlnfough the clamping means for drawing that portion' of the margin that is to form the sole attaching flange smoothly toward theline of bend.

13. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, the combination vwith an inside forming die movable against the vamp to stretch and shape the toe, of means to grip and hold the margin of the vamp .from one side of the toe around the end of the toe to the other side, said means being formed with an opening rat the rear to permit the die and the body part of the vamp to project rearwardly beyond the clamping means and being further constructed and arranged to hold the gripped marginal material until the diehas stretched the interior portion of he vamp to a predetermined extent and then to 'give up slowly only 'the amount which, under like tension, is required by the die in continuing the formation of the toe as said die is forced into the middle portion of the vamp.

14. ln a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, the combination with an inside forming die movable against the vamp to stretch and shape the toe. of means to grip and hold the margin of the vamp from one side of the toe around the end of the toe to the other side, said means being formed with an opening at the rear to permit the die and the body part of the vamp to project rearwardly beyond the clamping means and being further constructed and arranged to hold the gripped marginal material until the die has stretched the interior portion of the vamp to a predetermined extent and then to give up slowly only the amount which, under like tension, is required by the die in continuing the formation of the toe as said die is forced into the interior portion of the vamp, and a compression die formed to fit the upper shaping faces of the inside die and between which and the inside die the vamp stock, while held in stretched condition, is subjected to pressure to set it in the new shape.

15. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, the combination with an inside forming die movable against the vamp to stretch and shape the toe. of vamp holding means comprising a. work support having an aperture to receive the inside die and fit the vamp shaping faces of the inside die and a clamping device to clamp the margin of the vamp on the top face ofthe work support from one side of the toe around the end of the toe to the other side while leaving the vamp unclamped against a face of the work support across the vamp parallel with the tip seam.

1G. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, the combination with an inside forming die movable against the vamp to stretch and shape the toe, of vamp holding means comprising a work support having an aperture to receive the inside die and fit the vamp shaping faces of the inside die and a clamping` device to clamp the margin of the vamp on the top face of the work support and comprising a plurality of members each of which is pressed toward clamping position independently by means capable of apply/*ing different forces to one member from that applied to another .so that the inside die may take more material from one portion of the vamp margin than from another.

17. 1n a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, the combination with a frame and a vertical shaft rotatable in the frame, of a table on the shaft, a turret located above the table on the shaft and h aving a plurality of arms, a forming die movable in each arm, a work support in the table in alinement with each die and having a face to support the margin of a vamp and a cavity constituting a mold the inner walls of which correspond in shape to the contour of the forming die, means cooperating with the work supporting face to clamp the margin of the vamp, and means by which to force each die separately into its mold and hold it there whereby each vamp in succes- 5 sion may be stretched and then molded and allowed to set under molding pressure.

1S. 1n machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a work support having an opening through which the interior of the vamp is to be forced and a face upon which the margin of the vamp is to be clamped,

means to clamp the vamp on said face, a

forming die, a plunger on which the die is mounted, a yielding guide for the plunger, and operating means having connection with the plunger to press the die against the vamp and finding relief in said guide against excessive vamp pressure.

0 19. 1n a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a work support having a mold through which the interior of the vamp is to be forced and a face upon which the margin 5 of the vamp is to be clamped, means to clamp the vamp on said face, a forming die,

a plunger on which the die is mounted, a

guide which ,is movable vertically and through which the plunger extends, a spring against which the guide can move upwardly,

a toggle connecting the guide and the plunger, and means to operate the toggle to cause the die to force the vamp into the mold in the work support and then to compress the 0 vamp in the mold while the spring permits the guide to yield during completion of the stroke of the operating means.

Y Q0. 1n a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a forming die, means to operate the die, a work support having an aperture through which the die can press the interior of the toe portion of the vamp and having a face to support the margin of said portion of the vamp, and means having a face to clamp the vamp margin on the work support, lone of the margin clamping members being formed in sections which are independently yielding from and toward the face of the work.

91. In a forming machine, in combination, a table having a forming opening, a movable plunger having a former copl porating with said opening, mechanism for 'J forcing the plunger toward and from said opening, mechanism for clamping a blank of yielding material at the marginal edges thereof at the marginal edges of the opening, said clamping mechanism lbeing provided with yielding frictional material upon a rigid backing, and means for holding the clamping mechanism yieldingly against said blank.

2Q. ln a forming machine, in combination, a table having a forming opening and a. clamping face about the marginal edges thereof, a clamping frame having a similar opening and a clamping face opposed to the marginal clamping face on said table, compressible friction material between said clamping faces, yielding means for holding the clamping frame against the marginal edges of a blank between the aforesaid clamping faces, and a reciprocatory plunger provided with a iressure plate adapted to force a. former into said opening in said table. A

23. In a machine for shaping the toes of boot and shoe Vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes, a work support having an aperture to be overlaid by the toe of the vamp, and clamping means comprising a. plate movable toward and from the work support, a clamping member connected to the outer edge of the plate, and a spring interposed between the plate and member and permitting the member to yield toward the plate under vamp clamping pressure'.

24. A machine for shaping the toe portions of shoe vamps preparatory to lasting the said toes over the lasts upon which the shoes are to be made having, in combination, means for confining the margin of a vamp on the sides and at the end of the toe, an inside forming die the general shape of which corresponds to the forepart of the shoe last from the toe end back to the ball and is narrower and has its curvatures exaggerated relatively to said last for the purpose of overmolding the Vtoe portion of the vamp materials, a cooperating outside forming' die arranged relatively to the vamp conning means to receive the middle portion of the toe when depressed by the inside die, and means for effecting the relative operation of said dies and margin confining means.

25. 1n a machine for forming the bulge of the toe of a boot or shoe vamp prior to the lasting of the upper, the combination with a toe shaping die and a second die arranged for cooperation therewith, of devices adapted to hold the toe material adjacent to the part of the vamp being operated upon by the dies and to give up the said material under the stress occasioned by the toe being conformed to the shaping dies, the arrangement being such. that only the toe part of the vamp is dealt with.

2G. ln a. machine for forming the bulge of the toe of a boot or shoe vamp prior to the lasting of the upper, the combination With a toe shaping die and a second die arranged for cooperation therewith7 of devices adapted to hold the toe material adjacent to the part of the vamp being operated upon by the dies and to give up the saidv material underthe stress occasioned by the toe being conformed to the shaping dies, the arrangement being such that only the toe part oit the vamp is dealt with, and means to adjust the distribution ot the restraining torce occasioned by the holding devices to prede termine the stress under which the material is given up so as to vary the stress at diliferent parts oit the work being operated upon.

2T. In a machine for forming the bulge of the toe oit a. boot or shoe vamp prior to the lasting of the upper, the combination with a. toe shaping die and a second die arranged for coperation therewith, of devices adapted to hold the toe material adjacent to the part of the vamp being operated upon by the dies and to give up the said material under the stress occasioned by the toe being conformed to the shaping dies, the arrangement being such that only the toe part ot the vamp is dealt with, said holding` devices including a holding means Which is mounted upon and surrounds the toe shaping die but is permitted yielding movement relatively thereto in the direction of the operative movement that occurs between the dies.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tivo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN H. CONNOR. lVitnesses:

ARTHUR L. RUSSELL, HARLOW M. Davis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 33. C. 

